BIRTHWORT FAMILY ARISTOLOCHIACEAE 
WILD GINGER 
Asarum canadense L. 
Many people have tramped the woods for years with- 
out seeing the flower of the Wild Ginger, yet this plant is 
quite common throughout our state and its flower is 
relatively large and pretty. However, the 
flower is seldom seen because it is produced 
so close to the ground that it is hidden be- 
neath leaves and for- 
est debris. 
This plant is easily 
transplanted and grows 
well in rich soil in shady 
places, spreading by 
means of a brown or 
greenish brown under- 
ground stem. It is found 
throughout the states bor- 
dering the Mississippi river, south to 
Missouri, and the eastern states, south to 
North Carolina. 
In spring 2 long-petioled kidney-shaped 
leaves arise from the rootstock, become 
5-7 inches broad and remain green through 
the summer. The stem has a strong odor 
of ginger when broken or bruised. 
The flower blooms in April or May but 
has no corolla. The 3-lobed calyx is grown fast to the ovary and 
is purplish green on the outside and rich brownish purple or 
chocolate color within. The filaments of the 12 stamens are 
slender and extend beyond the short anthers, terminating in 
sharp points. They adhere above to the column, of 6 united 
styles, and their bases expand below into a case that encloses 
the ovary. The ovary is 6-celled and matures into a capsule 
containing many seeds. 
The Short-lobed Wild Ginger, 4sarum canadense L. var. reflexum 
(Bicknell) Robinson, is almost a duplicate of the species but the calyx 
segments are short, deltoid and almost from the opening of the 
flower are abruptly reflexed, strongly and permanently. It is found 
mostly in the southern portion of Illinois. 
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